1. USPS Waterway Awareness 11/23/2018
Waterway Awareness is a maritime homeland security outreach program for recreational boaters and waterfront users, developed by USPS to increase recognition of and the ability to report suspicious activity to appropriate authorities. It can be described as a ‘Neighborhood Watch on the Water’ and could become an indicator of potential harm to our nation’s waterways and surrounding infrastructures.
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

2. Why a Program 9/11 Changed Recreational Boating
Waterways could be a target
U.S. Coast Guard requesting support by all recreational boaters
Participate in the Program
All boaters
All waterways
The project outlines a program that USPS district and squadron leaders can use to acquaint members with the seriousness of homeland security, what they should look for while on their boats dockside and while boating, and to define what members must do when encountering questionable circumstances.
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

3. Waterway Awareness Purpose
Use the “Eyes and Ears” of Waterfront Users to:
Detect and
Report suspicious activity.
You Know What Is Normal and What Is Not
The purpose of Waterway Awareness is to use the “eyes and ears” of waterfront users, such as boaters, marina operators and other waterfront businesses, to detect and report suspicious activity that may have terrorist implications. The US Coast Guard and US Coast Guard Auxiliary cannot cover all of our waterways.
As a recreational boater, or one who lives, works or engages in recreational activities around US waterways, your help is needed in keeping these areas safe and secure.
Though waterway security is better than before, with more than 95,000 miles of shoreline, over 290,000 square miles of water, and approx. 70 million recreational boaters in the US, the US Coast Guard and local first responders can not do the job alone.
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

4. Waterway Awareness Purpose
We ask you to Adopt A Heightened Sense of Sensitivity Toward Unusual Events or Individuals you may encounter in or around:
PORTS, b) DOCKS, c) MARINAS,
d) RIVERSIDES, e) BEACHES, or
f) WATERFRONT COMMUNITIES.
Who better than families living along our waterways to recognize when the behavior of visitors in and around their community is not consistent with what usually takes place in the neighborhood?
Who better than recreational boaters, while aboard their boats at the dock or while traveling in familiar waters to notice unusual and suspicious activities going on around them?
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

5. Common Sense Approach To protect our waterways
Be alert
Maintain a calm, common sense approach to handling a threat
Heightened awareness communicates confidence
Our police, security, and military cannot be everywhere. Terrorism personally affects every individual.
Heightened awareness communicates confidence that we are not easy targets.
Terrorists live among us without looking suspicious while planning and preparing for their attack. They often need training or equipment that will arouse suspicion. They need to surreptitiously conduct surveillance on possible targets and gather information.
These leave terrorists vulnerable to detection … if we are alert and … if we promptly report it to appropriate authorities.
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

6. What is Terrorism? Terrorism is a CRIME. It is not a crime to:
Have a strong set of beliefs that are outside mainstream ideology.
Say something radical or inflammatory.
It is important to understand what terrorism is and what it is not. For an act to be considered terrorism, it must be a crime.
Crimes include:
Homicides,
Threats,
Harassment,
Vandalism,
Arson
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

7. Terrorism Might target: National policy Local community Business
Ethnicity
Members of any specialty group
Terrorists believe their cause is so important that any action taken is justified.
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

8. Terrorist Objectives Several immediate objectives
terrorists groups will attempt to gain through their acts -
Fear, Panic
Disruption of services
Demoralization, Intimidation
Embarrassment of our leaders
Media attention; one of their most important goals
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

9. Who Terrorists Attack
Sometimes they choose victims they perceive as enemies
Other times they choose victims without any purpose
There are no innocent bystanders
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

10. Who Terrorists Attack
They always choose targets after careful surveillance.
Select targets that seem weak or unprotected
Look for targets where people are not alert
Pick the target and method of attack that will get them the greatest attention.
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

11. Staying Alert
How do we recognize the difference between normal and abnormal behavior?
Know who your neighbors are
Know what boats are normally in your marina, on your waterways
Know what is appropriate in your marina
Know who regularly makes deliveries
Know who the regular maintenance and cleaning people are
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

12. Staying Alert
Staying alert is not paranoia. Staying alert is being aware of one’s surroundings!
Staying alert means paying attention to:
Issues in the media
Local/national/international news that may increase risks for certain groups or facilities
Government related “threat notices” indicating a threat against a type of activity.
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

13. What is Suspicious Activity?
“Suspicious activity refers to, but is not limited to:
Activity which a reasonably prudent person would consider out of the ordinary or unusual
Based on the facts and circumstances for that situation.”
From a report by the Commandant of the US Coast Guard
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

14. What are some Suspicious Activities?
Unusual requests for information
Unattended vessels or vehicles in unusual places
Unusual diving activity
Unusual night operations
Operating in or passing through an area not typical for such activity
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

15. What are some Suspicious Activities?
Anchoring in an area not typically used for anchorage
Light signals between vessels
Recovering or tossing items in water
Transfer of people or things between ships or shore that seem unusual
Operating a vessel in an aggressive behavior
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

16. What are some Suspicious Activities?
Unusual interest in high risk or symbolic targets such as:
Photographing:
surveillance camera(s)
crash barriers at entrances
bridge abutments
access controls
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

17. What are some Suspicious Activities?
Drawing/sketching diagrams
Annotating maps
Excessive use of binoculars or night vision devices
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

18. What are some Suspicious Activities?
Unusual requests for information
For example
Asking questions regarding timing of bridge openings
Asking about security system
Although possibly legitimate, they are also techniques used by terrorists to gather information while planning an attack.
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

19. Sensitive Information
Before giving out sensitive information
Know the individual and know they have a need for the information
Do not give out sensitive information unless you know the person and they have the need for the information.
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

20. Where to look for Suspicious Activity?
Under and around bridges, tunnels or overpasses
Near commercial areas or services like
a) Ports b) Security areas
c) Public utility areas
d) Fuel docks
e) Cruise ships
f) Marinas
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

21. Where to look for Suspicious Activity?
Near industrial facilities such as
a) Power plants
b) Oil, Chemical, or Water intake facilities
Near military bases and vessels
Government facilities or security zones.
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

22. Recognizing Suspicious Activity
Not a hard science.
You need to rely on judgment
It comes down to:
Experience
Judgment
Common sense
You can identify a terrorist threat by observing suspicious activity that may lead to a criminal act and reporting promptly to appropriate authorities.
Recognizing suspicious activity is not a hard science.
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

23. Be aware of Be aware of people: Acting furtively and suspiciously
Avoiding eye contact
Darting quickly when seen or approached
In places they do not belong
Having trouble communicating why they are in places where they do not belong
Overdressed for the weather.
Unusual activity does not necessarily mean that terrorist activity is happening, but its doesn’t hurt to be aware.
Also be aware of
strong odor(s) coming from a building or vehicle
Fluid leaking from a vehicle other than the engine or gas tank
Deliveries are a common method for terrorists to carry out attacks.
Be aware of:
a vehicle with hazardous material parked or driving in an inappropriate area
unusual deliveries of chemicals or fertilizer
unattended bags or boxes in a public access area
fire extinguishers that may have been moved or tampered with.
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

24. Pay attention to Visitors Arriving and leaving at unusual hours
Trying not to be noticed
Acting in a suspicious manner
Parking in an unusual distance from facility
Unusual number of unrelated people living together.
Terrorists when not acting alone, need to meet with other conspirators.
Terrorists need supplies to carry out their attacks to accomplish their goals
In addition to paying attention to visitors, pay attention to
Police, security, public utility, mail carrier, or airline uniforms and equipment, explosives, weapons, ammunitions, propane bottles, toxic chemicals and vehicles able to contain or haul materials.
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

25. Providing an Accurate Report
A) What to report
B) Who to call
Two key elements in giving a good report are:
Accuracy
Timeliness
Include accurate location of suspicious activity along with date and time observed.
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

26. Accuracy Accuracy means What you saw, nothing more
Include the reason activity seemed suspicious; even if the
reason is “It wasn’t normal”
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

27. Timeliness
After a certain period of time, the suspicious situation will change
People leave or possibly alter their appearance
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

28. Timeliness
Report anything suspicious immediately after you observe it happening. VERY IMPORTANT
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

29. What to Report? Permanent details are very important
Provide details, create a word picture.
Details carry weight
Changeable details such as activity are important, but may not be the same once the officer arrives.
Permanent details are very important
It is important to the responding officer to quickly spot the suspicious person or activity.
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

30. Reporting a Person Include: Hair - color, length, facial hair Race Age
Gender
Size – height, weight
Clothing
Distinguishing marks – scars, tattoos
Disabilities
Include an in session example. Show an image for 30 seconds, hide slide, have audience describe what they saw.
Show image a second time – for one minute. Did they add any more information to the report to increase accuracy.
If necessary repeat a third time.
Critique descriptions after third viewing.
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

31. Reporting a Vessel Include Type – Power, Sail, Cruiser, Runabout Model
Color – paint, markings
Size – length
Visible body/hull damage
Stickers
Accessories – antennas, flags
Registration - number, State of registration
Include an in session example. Show an image for 30 seconds, hide slide, then have audience describe what they saw.
Show slide a second time – This time display image for one minute. Was any more information added to increase accuracy of report.
If necessary repeat a third time.
Critique descriptions after third viewing.
Practice developing descriptions of vehicles/vessels and persons you see as you cruise your local waterways or people you encounter in your everyday activities.
The more you practice, the better your observation skills become and the better you do when nervous or excited.
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

32. Who to call? Emergency – Call local emergency number
Usually 911 or U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16
Know in advance if you need to dial an access number for an outside line
Non-Emergency – call a non-emergency number. Know number in advance. Do not tie up 911.
First evaluate whether it is an emergency or non-emergency situation.
Most local police departments, and all state police barracks and 911 centers have non-emergency numbers.
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

33. US Coast Guard America’s Waterway Watch
24 hour number hot line number
WATCH
( )
National Response Center number
Take time now to look up your appropriate local number and record it in a handy place.
11/23/2018
United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun